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White broad-breasted turkeys are the most popular for growing among farmers around the world. The breed was bred by breeders of the United States of America by crossing bronze wide-breasted turkey with white Dutch. To Russia turkeys given breeds brought from Holland and Great Britain.
Features of the breed
The external features of the bird are reflected in the name of the breed: turkeys have a convex, wide chest and white feathers.
Other characteristics:
- oval body;
- sloping wide back;
- medium-sized head;
- strong pink legs;
- developed tail and wings;
- middle neck;
- dense plumage.
Many wonderful crosses have been bred on the basis of the breed lines of the white broad-breasted turkey: Victoria, Grade Maker, Station wagon, BIG-6.
The egg production of females is high - during the reproductive period, the turkey gives from 80 eggs. The eggs are large (about 80 g), with a brown speck.
According to the reviews of the breeders of the breed, the broad-breasted white, the positive qualities of turkeys are considered to be very fast growth, the most tender meat, and high egg production. The exactingness of these birds to the temperature regime is also noted. It is said that turkeys by the age of 120 days begin to slowly gain weight, so they are allowed to eat meat at this time - that is, early maturity occurs in a short time.
Conditions of keeping turkeys of the breed white wide-breasted
Newborn turkeys require constant monitoring and careful care. Adult turkeys are less dependent on housing conditions. More than 40 turkeys and 5 turkeys cannot be kept in one place, since the birds will start quarreling and can cause serious damage to each other.
Turkey poultry
The breed of turkeys is white broad-breasted - thermophilic. Birds are afraid of dampness and drafts, so the turkey house should be dry and warm. To avoid drafts, it is advisable that there are no windows in the room where the turkeys are located. However, turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed need a sufficient amount of light, which they need to provide through the installation of additional lighting sources.
Pasture
Turkeys white broad-breasted are prone to obesity - this has a bad effect on the quality and taste of meat. To avoid this problem, birds should be allowed to walk outside. The walking area should be spacious. Be sure to install a fence around the perimeter. First of all, it will protect the birds from the wind. Secondly, it will help keep the birds on the territory of the farm, since the white broad-breasted turkeys are very freedom-loving.
Perches
Turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed, like all poultry, sleep on perches. There should be enough space on them for each bird to be comfortable - at least 40 cm.If the places are located one above the other, there should be a distance of at least 60 cm between them.The thickness of the roost bars should be determined taking into account the number and total weight of birds that will sit on them. The perches should be installed at a distance of 80 cm from the ground.
Nests
The condition for good egg production of turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed and incubation of chicks is a correctly designed and installed nest in the right place. In order for the birds to get used to the structure, it is necessary to set up the nest several weeks before the turkey reproduces.
To do this, the nest should be located away from noisy places and the entrance. Where the nest is, it should be warm, dry and little light. At the same time, it is important that you can approach it in order to clean and disinfect.
Eggs should not be placed on hard or cold surfaces, so be sure to put some bedding on the bottom of the nest. Most often, hay and straw are used as flooring. To prevent the eggs from rolling, you can make a wreath out of straw.
The size of the nest should not be less than 60 cm in length and width. It should contain no more than 5 broad-breasted white turkeys at the same time. Some turkeys sit on top of the nest, so it is advisable to make a sloping roof over the incubation area. The height to which the nest is installed must be more than 25 cm.
When choosing a nest, you should pay attention to the presence of a high side so that the egg cannot roll out and break. Also, a sufficiently high sill prevents the litter from spilling outward, which means that the masonry is protected from the possibility of being on the hard bottom of the nest.
It is necessary to inspect the incubation site for protruding nails, splinters and other objects that can damage the white broad-breasted turkey or fragile eggs.
Feeders and drinkers
Competently selected feeders allow you to properly organize the process of feeding turkeys and save feed. The trough should be at the same height as the turkeys' backs.
For turkeys and adult birds of the white broad-breasted breed, as well as for different types of feed, there should be their own feeders. For mineral fertilizing, it is better to install a sectional feeder. In order not to constantly monitor the availability of free-flowing feed, it is convenient to use bunker feeders - food is added to them automatically when it becomes less.
Newborn turkeys have soft beaks. To prevent damage to the feeder, you should choose soft containers: made of silicone, rubber or cloth.
Since turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed are heavy birds, they can easily turn the container over, so it is better to additionally strengthen the feeders.
Turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed drink a lot.
The nipple drinker is considered the best drinker, since water does not stagnate in it and each turkey receives as much liquid as it needs. Not suitable for newborn turkeys. For them, it is better to use a vacuum drinker.
If regular drinkers are used, care must be taken to ensure that the water from them does not get on the turkeys, otherwise they may catch cold.
Turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed are individualists, they do not like to share space at the feeder or drinker with each other.
Turkey poultry care
Newborn babies require a special temperature regime - not lower than +36 degrees. They also need round-the-clock light.
It is important to protect white broad-breasted turkey poults from infections:
- The litter must be kept clean and dry - it must be cleaned daily and the entire flooring must be replaced once a week.
- Drinking water should be warm: at least 25 degrees. When the poults grow up - no less than the air temperature in the poultry house.
- Make sure that the chick is not wet.
Turkey poults of the white broad-breasted breed have poor eyesight, so it is necessary that the feeder and drinker be in the immediate vicinity of the chicks. To make the food more noticeable for turkey poults, it is worth adding bright foods to it: pieces of carrots, boiled yolk or colored cereals.
You can watch a description of two-month-old turkey poults in the video:
Turkey care
In turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed, parasites living on feathers, skin or under it may appear: ticks, lice, bugs, fleas.Arthropods spread rapidly from one bird to another. When infected, turkeys develop severe itching, they itch all the time and clean their feathers. At the same time, the productivity of the birds decreases, and the appetite increases.
To prevent the appearance of parasites, turkeys must be carefully examined periodically. Nests, perches, litter, as well as cracks and crevices on all surfaces should be inspected from time to time. It is also important to install a container in the turkey house, into which ash and sand must be poured in equal proportions. There the turkeys will clean themselves. The mixture must be added as it decreases.
Therefore, in order to avoid the appearance of parasites, turkeys need to be provided with complete food.
Feeding turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed
You need to feed turkey poults 8 times a day, adult birds - at least three, during reproduction - five.
Newborn chicks are fed with a mixture of boiled eggs and crushed cereals, chopped greens are added from a month.
Turkeys of the white broad-breasted breed are given compound feed: in the morning and in the afternoon - wet mash, in the evening - dry. The diet should contain a large amount of greens and foods that contain a lot of vitamins (vegetables, sprouted grains, etc.). It is especially important to vitaminize feed in late autumn, winter and early spring. At this time, turkeys are additionally given synthetic vitamin preparations.
Conclusion
Despite the exacting nature of the breed, it is quite possible to provide these birds with the necessary conditions. As a result, turkeys will delight you with good development and high productivity.
